Tiltrotator for connecting to a support device

Abstract

The invention relates to a swivel, rotation, or swivel rotator device for connecting to a support device and to an attachment, wherein the support device has at least one hydraulic circuit, in particular at least two hydraulic circuits, for connection to the swivel, rotation, or swivel rotator device; the swivel, rotation, or swivel rotator device preferably has a coupling device for the attachment; and the swivel, rotation, or swivel rotator device has at least two swivel, rotation, or swivel rotator device functions. The swivel, rotation, or swivel rotator device is characterized in that a control device for the swivel, rotation, or swivel rotator device functions is provided, and the control device has at least two control variants which are independent of each other. The invention further relates to a support device having at least one hydraulic circuit, in particular at least two hydraulic circuits, for connecting to a swivel, rotation, or swivel rotator device.

Description

[0001] Title: Tiltrotator for connecting to a carrier device

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a swiveling, rotating, or tiltrotator device for connection to a carrier device and an attachment according to the preamble of claim 1, as well as a carrier device with such a swiveling, rotating, or tiltrotator device. The swiveling, rotating, or tiltrotator device may, in particular, be a tiltrotator.

[0004] So-called tiltrotators or swivel rotators for connection to carrier vehicles, such as excavators, to which excavator attachments are then connected to an excavator arm, are generally known. Tiltrotators make it possible to...

[0005] The attachment can be pivoted around a swivel axis as well as rotated around a rotation axis.

[0006] For example, from US 2011 / 0264336 Al, a tiltrotator is known wherein a hydraulic cylinder is provided for movement about a pivot axis, which is arranged in the outside of the tiltrotator.

[0007] From DE 20 2011 100 482 Ul, a further rotary swivel drive for excavator attachments is known, wherein a swivel drive means for swiveling about a swivel axis has a swivel drive shaft and a longitudinally displaceable piston, and a rotary drive means with a worm shaft is provided for rotating about a rotation axis.

[0008] Furthermore, a coupling device for an excavator attachment for coupling the excavator attachment to an excavator arm is known from EP 2 787 125 Bl.

[0009] It is known that tiltrotators are equipped with and available with various tiltrotator functions.

[0010] The object of the invention is now to make the control of the various swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device functions more convenient.

[0011] The object of the invention is now achieved by means of a swiveling, rotating or tiltrotator device with the features of claim 1 and a carrier device with the features of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments are set out in the dependent claims.

[0012] The swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device according to the invention can be designed, in particular, as tiltrotators, but also as swivel or rotation units. The swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device can be detachably coupled to the attachment or permanently mounted to it. "Permanently mounted" means that separation and, for example, replacement of the attachment and the swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device is not provided for in standard operation. Such devices are referred to, for example, as permanently mounted tiltrotators, provided they offer both a swivel and a rotation function.

[0013] Swivel, rotation or tiltrotator devices can be designed with simple equipment such that the operation of the coupling device on the swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device for an excavator attachment is mechanical, whereby the coupling device for the attachment has no hydraulic function.

[0014] According to an alternative design, in addition to the functions "swivel" and "rotate" which are also provided in the basic version, the function of operating the coupling device for the attachment can also be hydraulically provided.

[0015] Another alternative design provides that the control of the swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device functions "swivel" and "rotate" of the swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device, as well as the opening and closing of the coupling device for the attachment and finally also the functions of the hydraulic attachment can be controlled.

[0016] Such control is achieved by activating the hydraulic valve that operates the functions, preferably by the driver or operator of the carrier vehicle using an electronic control system. However, it is also conceivable that the control is not carried out by the driver of a carrier vehicle, but by another, even external, operator.

[0017] The problem is that a typical carrier device only has two hydraulic circuits available, but these must operate more than two functions of the tiltrotator if a variant beyond the simple version is to be implemented.

[0018] It is known to provide a control system via solenoid valves, which enables switching of the hydraulic circuits to the various functions of the swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device via a hydraulic valve installed on the device. For example, the rotation function can be implemented and supplied via the "grip / rotate" hydraulic circuit of the carrier device, and the "hammer / shear" hydraulic circuit can supply both the "swivel" function and the "open and close clutch" function, as well as, if applicable, the function of the attachment. The swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device of the

[0019] The invention includes, in addition to a coupling device for connecting to a carrier device according to an exemplary embodiment, a coupling device for an attachment device, wherein the carrier device to be connected to the swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device has in particular at least two hydraulic circuits.

[0020] Alternatively, in addition to a detachable connection of the swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device with the attachment, a connection of the swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device with the attachment is also possible, which is not made via a coupling device that can be detached during operation, but is permanently connected.

[0021] The swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device therefore has at least one, preferably at least two, hydraulic inlets that can be connected to the hydraulic circuits of the carrier device. If the carrier device has more or fewer hydraulic circuits, it may be preferable for the swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device to also have more or fewer hydraulic inlets. Preferably, the swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device has the same number of hydraulic inlets as the carrier device has hydraulic outlets or hydraulic circuits.

[0022] A control device is provided on the swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device for the swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device functions, wherein the hydraulic valve of the swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device is switched between the swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device functions via a solenoid valve. The swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device functions are preferably:

[0023] "Rotate", "Swivel", "Coupling device"

[0024] "Open / Close" and / or "Functions of the hydraulic attachment".

[0025] According to the invention, at least two different and independent control variants are provided on the control device. Three or more independent control variants are also conceivable. Possible control variants include electrical switching, electro-hydraulic or hydraulic switching, as well as combinations thereof.

[0026] The control device preferably comprises a hydraulic valve, wherein a hydraulic valve is also understood to be a functional combination of several hydraulic valves, which can be operated via at least one solenoid valve and preferably via at least one mechanical device, wherein the solenoid valve represents the first control variant and the mechanical device represents the second control variant.

[0027] The provision of two independent control options, namely via at least one solenoid valve and preferably via at least one mechanical device, offers the particular advantage that emergency control is possible even in the event of a failure, should one of the solenoid valves or one of the other components fail. This also allows use with carrier devices that are not equipped for electronic control via the solenoid valves.

[0028] In particular, an emergency control system can be implemented with a second or further control variant, designed as a mechanical control. In this case, it is possible to switch to a manual control variant.

[0029] Alternatively, at least two independent electronic, hydraulic and / or electrohydraulic control variants are conceivable.

[0030] The provision of two independent control options increases operational reliability. This prevents equipment failure, allowing work to continue or enabling operation even with carrier equipment that does not support electronic control. Downtime during construction or equipment use can be minimized, and flexibility is increased.

[0031] The hydraulic valve may include a multi-way ball valve and / or be connected to it, particularly via supply lines. Such a multi-way ball valve offers a particularly simple switching option. This allows switching between individual functions, for example, switching the tiltrotator function "rotate" from the "grip / turn" hydraulic circuit to the "hammer / shear" hydraulic circuit. The multi-way ball valve can also be used as a mechanical control option. Alternatively, or additionally, quick-connect couplings, where hydraulic hoses are swapped, and / or ball-type valves are also conceivable.

[0032] According to one design, the hydraulic valve can be a black-and-white valve or a proportional valve.

[0033] A proportional valve is a hydraulic valve technology in which the flow rate is typically distributed to different functions via a single supply circuit, i.e., a hydraulic circuit. With such a hydraulic valve, the various control options, as well as the emergency operation, can also be combined via two independent control variants, one of which is preferably a mechanical control variant, using a mechanical device, for example, in the form of the aforementioned multi-way ball valve.

[0034] The mechanical control option is particularly suitable if the carrier device is not equipped with a corresponding electrical / electronic control option.

[0035] In addition to the described swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device, a carrier device connected to such a device is also part of the invention. Besides the two hydraulic circuits of the carrier device mentioned in particular, there are also carrier devices that are part of the invention, in which the invention can be implemented, and which are equipped with rail technology, preferably having a total of at least three hydraulic circuits that can be accessed from the carrier device and connected to, in particular, three hydraulic connections of the swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device. Such carrier devices can also be operated, or equipped, via the aforementioned design for controlling the swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device functions using at least two different, independent control variants.

[0036] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.

[0037] The single figure shows a swiveling, rotating, or tiltrotator device, in this case a tiltrotator, which in its entirety is designated with reference numeral 10. The tiltrotator has hydraulic connections (not shown) that can be connected to the hydraulic lines of a carrier device (not shown).

[0038] The tiltrotator 10 has a coupling device (not shown) on its upper surface, preferably designed as a quick coupler, through which the hydraulic inlets of the tiltrotator 10 are connected to the hydraulic circuits of the carrier machine. Alternatively, fixed-mount tiltrotators are also possible. Furthermore, the hydraulic connections can be coupled to an attachment. The hydraulics can be used to operate the rotation of the tiltrotator 10, as well as the pivoting movement of the tiltrotator and the opening of a coupling device 12 for an attachment.

[0039] A hydraulic valve 16 is provided on the upper surface 14 of the tiltrotator 10 in its operating position. This hydraulic valve 16 allows the hydraulic flows to be switched so that the various tiltrotator functions of the tiltrotator 10 can be controlled. However, a different arrangement of the hydraulic valve is also conceivable, i.e., a position other than the upper surface in its operating position. Preferably, the hydraulic valve 16 can be arranged in the area of ​​the tiltrotator 10 that points towards the carrier device. Proximity to the hydraulic connections of the carrier device is advantageous.

[0040] The hydraulic valve 16 is controlled by at least two different independent control variants, namely firstly by electromagnetic control means, in particular solenoid valves, which are preferably connected to a corresponding control device in a cabin of the carrier device and enable switching of the swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device functions from the cabin of the carrier device.

[0041] Furthermore, a multi-way ball valve is provided. This can be designed as a mechanical control variant, but it can also be electromagnetically controlled. In addition to the control variant from a cabin of the carrier vehicle, a mechanical switching operation can also be achieved via this valve, for which a switching lever is provided (not shown here).

[0042] As explained, it is possible for the solenoid valve to be integrated into the multi-way ball valve or connected to it as a separate component, with the mechanical control option also being provided, as explained. In this way, at least two independent control options can be implemented.

[0043] The provision of a mechanical control variant offers the advantage that, firstly, such a tiltrotator 10 with function switching can also be used with carrier vehicles that do not support control from the carrier vehicle's cab. Secondly, emergency control is possible even in the event of a failure of the corresponding systems or, in particular, the electromagnets. Downtime and construction interruptions can thus be largely avoided.

[0044] It is possible that the multi-way ball valve is integrated into the hydraulic valve 16. Alternatively, it is also possible that the multi-way ball valve is located externally or separately from the hydraulic valve 16 and is connected to the hydraulic valve 16 via supply hoses.

[0045] The task described at the beginning can be solved in the manner described above.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device for connection to a carrier device and an attachment, wherein the carrier device has at least one, in particular at least two, hydraulic circuits for connection to the swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device, and the swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device preferably has a coupling device for the attachment, and wherein the swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device has at least two swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device functions, characterized in that a control device for the swivel, rotation, or tiltrotator device functions is provided, and wherein the control device has at least two independent control variants.

2. Swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device comprises a hydraulic valve.

3. Swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the hydraulic valve can be controlled via at least one solenoid valve as a first control variant and via at least one mechanical device as a second control variant.

4. Swivel, rotation or swivel rotator device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hydraulic valve comprises a multi-way ball valve and / or is coupled to it.

5. Swivel, rotation or swivel rotator device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hydraulic valve is a proportional valve or an on / off valve.

6. Swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first control variant, in particular an electromagnetic control variant, is prioritized over a second control variant, in particular a mechanical control variant.

7. Swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical device is designed as an emergency control.

8. Swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a coupling device for the carrier device is provided on a top side or a side of the swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device facing towards a carrier device in the operating position, wherein in particular a quick coupling is provided, and wherein preferably a coupling device for the attachment is provided on a bottom side of the tiltrotator in the operating position.

9. Swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device has at least two hydraulic inlets which can be connected to the hydraulic circuits of the carrier device.

10. Swivel, rotation or tiltrotator device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device includes the hydraulic inlets or is fluidically connected to them.

11. Carrier unit with at least two hydraulic circuits for connection to a swivel, rotation or Swivel rotator device according to one of the preceding claims.

12. Carrier device according to claim 11, characterized in that the carrier device has a rail device for the It has hydraulic connections.

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